Pothead device



July 29, 1930. G. P. EDMONDS POTHEAD DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1926 77 Qeagg I? Eflmmzair,

Patented July 29, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE r. EDMONDS, OF CHICAGO, I LINOI ASSIGNOR T G. & w. ELECTRIC SPE- CIALTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS POTIIEAD DEVICE Application filed September 24, 1926. Serial No. 137,608.

My invention relates to pothead devices and particularl to the inlet arrangements or structures for t 1e same.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and effective form of inlet arrangement or structure for pothead devices.

Another object of the invention is to arrange forthe ready and effective adjustment or tightening of the stuffing box device usually forming a part of the inlet arrangement or structure.

Another object of the invention is to arrange forthe. convenient and effective adjustment or clamping of the upper end of the cable sheath in the pothead casing.

Another object of the invention is to permit the quick and ready assemblage of the various parts of the inlet structure or arrangement in or in connection with the pothead.

Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity of construction and reduce the cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to secure the foregoing and other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

Other objects of the invention will appear and be pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the lower part of the pothead structure embodying the invention together with a portion of a cable entering the lower end of the same, this Fig. 1 being taken on line 11 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is asimilar vertical section on a different vertical plane as shown by line 22 in Fig 3. a

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings I show a pothead device embodying an Outer casing 1 which is preferably though not necessarily made of insulating material and which has such shape and configuration as is desired to accomplish the purposes of the pothead.

A cable 2 is shown entering the lower end of the pothead and extending up into the same,

the lower portion of the cable being shown with the sheath 3 and the upper part of the cable being shown with the sheath removed, so as to bare or expose the insulating material 4 of the cable. As a novel and advantageous inlet structure or arrangement I' show a plate or inlet closing member 5 which is fitted at the bottom of easing 1, having a horizontal portion 6 and an upwardly extending portion 7 fitting within the open bottom of casing 1 and also having a downwardly extending flange or portion 8 surrounding the cable sheath 2. In case the pothead structure is annular in form or has an annular lower end as is frequently the case, this member 5 would preferably be annular in form and the portions 6, 7 and 8 thereof would likewise be annular. This member 5 is preferably made of metal such as brass. I I i A cuplike member 10 preferably made of metal is shown fitting around the lower end of the bowl or casing 1 and having a bottom flange or portionll fitting between the bottom of the bowland portion 6 of member 5.

Packing 12 is shown surrounding the cable sheath 2 in connection with member 5, and

a gland ring 13 is shown mounted so as to control packing ring 12, the member 5 being preferably provided with an inclined surface 14 and the gland ring 13 with an inclined surface 15, which surfaces 14 and 15 cooperate to contain and holdv the packing ring 12 whereby adjustment ofsaid ring 13 will cause adjustment of said packing 12.

For effecting such adjustment, I show in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a plurality of posts 16-16, as for example four of such posts 16 preferably arranged at equal distances apart.

These posts 16 preferably are constructed with polygonal portions which may be readily engaged by a wrench or other means for turning or rotating the posts, as for exam ple, the posts are made hexagonal in form preferably throughout their length as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The lower portions of these posts are preferably reduced in size and screw threaded as at 17 and these threaded ends are passed through apertures in the flange portion 1810f the gland ring 13 and are fitted into threaded sockets in the upwardly extending portion 7 of closing member 5. In this way the turning or rotation of posts 16 will effect an adjustment of ring 13 and thereby effect an adjustment of packing 12. Thus packing 12 may be adjusted to any desired degree of tightness and this may be accomplished in various different parts of the packing independent of the adjustment of other parts, that is to say, if one part of the packing is not adjusted tightly enough or becomes loose that particular part may be tightened by adjusting the post 16 or nearest said loose portion and this may be accomplished independently for different parts of the packing, thereby insuring and permitting the proper tightening of the packing in all of its parts.

As a matter of further improvement I show an arrangement for effectively clamping the outwardly turned or flanged end 3 of the cable sheath 3, and this arrangement preferably permits the independent sectional adjustment and clamping of the cable sheath flange, independently of the control of the packing or stuffing box arrangement previously described. As shown this arrangement involves two rings 22 and 23 whereof the ring 22 is preferably structurally independent of and loosely or detachably mounted on the upper ends of posts 16 and whereof the ring 23 is mounted above ring 22 and adapted with the latter to form a clamping arrangement for the cable sheath flange 3. For holding these rings 22 and 23 in position and permitting their relative adjustment to properly clamp or grip the cable sheath flange, I show screws 24 passing through said rings 22 and 23 and fitted into threaded sockets in posts 16, whereby the turning or adj ustment of said screws 2424l by their slotted heads 2525 will accomplish the desired adjustment of the rings 22 and 23, and this adjustment it will be seen is entirely inclependent of the adjustment of the stuffing box arrangement heretofore described.

Thus it will be seen that the stuffing or packing box arrangement of the pothead device may be readily controlled and adjusted as desired to secure any degree of tightness for the effective exclusion of moisture creeping up the cable sheath and also it will be seen that the cable sheath flared or flanged end may be independently and readily clamped and held so as to maintain it in the desired position in the pot-head bowl or casing and also to maintain a proper and tight bond or connection with the cable.

In the modification shown in Fig. at, screws 30 are shown extending up through the bot-- tom 11 or member 10 and also through member 5 and into the lower ends of posts 16 so that the stuffing box ring 13 may be adjusted from the bottom and outside of the bowl or casing 1, instead of effecting such adjustment by turning posts 16 as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In both modifications, it will be seen that the structure including the stuffing box and cable sheath clamping means is self-contained, whereby it may be attached to and de tached from the pothead device without interference with either the stuffing box adj ustment or the adjustment of the cable sheath clamping means.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. An inlet structure for pothead devices having, a stuffing box through which a sheathed cable is received, comprising a member having an opening of substantially the size of the cable sheath, an annular space about the sheath adjacent the opening, compressible packing surrounding the sheath in the annular space, a movable annular member surrounding the sheath and projecting into the space against the packing, screws spaced around the annular members and cooperating therewith to draw the members together, said screws including means elongated in the form of posts, annular clamping rings surrounding the cable and resting on said posts and means for clamping the end of the cable sheath between the rings.

2. An inlet structure for pothead devices having, a stuffing box through which a sheathed cable is received, comprising a member having an opening of substantially the size of the cable sheath, an annular space about the sheath adjacent the opening, compressible packing surrounding the sheath in the annular space, an annular member surrounding the sheath and projecting into the space against the packing for compressing same, screws spaced around the annular members and cooperating therewith to draw the packing members together, said screws including means elongated in the form of posts, annular clamping rings surrounding the cable and resting on said posts and means, for clamping the end of the cable sheath between the rings.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of September A. D.

GEORGE P. EDMONDS. 

